This technical paper on ornamental plant propagation in the tropics has been written to highlight the potential of tissue culture as an advanced propagation technology allowing for mass cloning of selected varieties or ecotypes. This document provides information on the state of the art of tissue culture propagation and gives technical details for propagating some 30 ornamental plant species. The aim of the paper is to enhance the technical capacity of public institutions and private entrepreneurs, thus leading to new production and market opportunities. It also aims to facilitate and encourage the use of techniques to promote ornamental plant diversity.

This technical paper on ornamental plant propagation in the tropics has been written to highlight the potential of tissue culture as an advanced propagation technology allowing for mass cloning of selected varieties or ecotypes. This document provides information on the state of the art of tissue culture propagation and gives technical details for propagating some 30 ornamental plant species. The aim of the paper is to enhance the technical capacity of public institutions and private entrepreneurs, thus leading to new production and market opportunities. It also aims to facilitate and encourage the use of techniques to promote ornamental plant diversity.

"Tropical Ornamentals: A Guide covers more than 400 of the plants most frequently encountered in gardens of the tropics. The accurate descriptions and more than 450 color photographs make it ideal for identifying ornamental plants grown in the tropics and sub-tropics, and often in temperate climates. Each description includes information on propagation methods and ideal growing conditions, making it useful for gardeners in determining how and where to cultivate the plants."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Hundreds of full-color photos of beautiful tropical plants, with common and scientific names, use and care information, cultivation and propagation tips, flowering habits, history, and little-known facts for many of the species.

In horticulture, plant propagation plays an important role, as the number of plants can be rapidly multiplied, retaining the desirable characteristics of the mother plants, and shortening the bearing age of plants. There are two primary forms of plant propagation: sexual and asexual. In nature, the propagation of plants most often involves sexual reproduction, and this form is still used in several species. Over the years, horticulturists have developed asexual propagation methods that use vegetative plant parts. Innovation in plant propagation has supported breeding programs and allowed the production of high quality nursery plants with the same genetic characteristics of the mother plant, free of diseases or pests.

History; Covering materials; Greenhouses; Growing systems in greenhouses; Floriculture crops; Water supply, water quality and mineral nutrition; Drip irrigation; Disease and insect control; Propagation and cultivar selection; Economics of protecred agriculture; Marketing and distribution; Technology transfer between nations; Development constraints, research needs and the future of protected agriculture.